Attempted my first Tele template today........

http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t468/jlaceytrc/templat1.jpg

Started by printing out the T. Downs drawing and taped it all together. Also picked up some MFD at HD. Hope nobody minds me posting this.



http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t468/jlaceytrc/template2.jpg

Checked to make sure the scale that I printed was right by placing my mim standard on the drawing. It was dead nuts on ......! When I placed my Baja on the drawing it was way off.......really not even close.



http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t468/jlaceytrc/template3.jpg

Cut out the drawing very carefully with a exacto blade. Man I can't see as well as I once could. Gettin' old !

http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t468/jlaceytrc/template4.jpg

Got it cut out pretty close. Im cross-eyed now I think..........One thing Im never sure about when I watch all the build threads is the area where the jack goes into the body. Some are round and some are flat? Im just learning but I watched Ron Kirn( I think ) make a flat spot after he cut the body so I chose to round out my template for now........can always go back later and flatten it out on a body. At least with a rounded template Im not limited just to flat.........



http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t468/jlaceytrc/template5.jpg

Used a straight edge where needed. Saw someone mention that in a thread concerning making neck templates. Always use a straight edge when it's got to be straight !



http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t468/jlaceytrc/template6.jpg

All cut out now and ready to trace the pattern onto the MDF.....I may be doing this all wrong but I really don't have much to go on......Im winging it I guess.

http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t468/jlaceytrc/template7.jpg

Tracing the pattern onto the MDF after making a center line first. THen I lined up my line with the center line on the drawing, used a couple of pieces of tape to hold it all in place. Starting out with some 1/4 inch material. I hope it turns out OK and Ican use it as my master. I hope to make some working templates out of 3/4 inch later.



http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t468/jlaceytrc/template8.jpg

Marking my hole centers very carefully with a sharpened punch.......




http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t468/jlaceytrc/template11.jpg

This is what happens when you never get around to mounting your antique pencil sharpener to the wall and your pencil needs attention....

http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t468/jlaceytrc/template9.jpg

On to the band saw for the rough out........



http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t468/jlaceytrc/template10.jpg

Finished at the band saw..........!



http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t468/jlaceytrc/template12.jpg

And then I drilled out the control and pup holes. I learned that I could have worked closer to my lines but wasn't sure how the MDF would react to the sander, so I left myself some working room. Next time I'll leave alot less material in these holes.



http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t468/jlaceytrc/template13.jpg

Drilled and ready to sand. You can tell I was worried by the amount I left in. I learned alot today.

http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t468/jlaceytrc/template14.jpg

NTD ! New toy day today ! Lets get it dusty ! It was nice out today so I thought rather than dusting out my building I'd drag up a 5 gallon bucket for a seat and have at it. Worked pretty good......



http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t468/jlaceytrc/template15.jpg

Easy does it ! Im impressed with the ROSS. I make my living with tools every day and decent tools are hard to come by that are both affordable and well built. The table on the ROSS is really good. Easy to go from spindle to belt. I gotta find a space for it in the shop but today outside was the ticket.....



http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t468/jlaceytrc/template17.jpg

More sanding. Trying to take my time and work to the lines.......

You must be way up N. Ga.--it rained in Metro Atlanta all day.

Nice looking template work. I didn't have the patience to cut my paper pattern out first, and it gave me trouble. The flat spot is fairly well marked on the tdowns prints as I recall, how much or little you work it is pretty much up to you. Looks like you already have 2 Teles, compare them, and copy the one that works best for you.

http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t468/jlaceytrc/template19.jpg

Gotta do a little hand work to slick things up a bit. No way really for me to get perfectly straight lines in these openings with the spindle alone. I just worked carefully to the lines. This MDF works like clay with some 100 grit stuck around some flat stock....



http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t468/jlaceytrc/template20.jpg

More hand work . If you really feel the edges you can find a few little places that need work, nothing major, just not perfect to the touch. If you go easy you can work these spots out I found. Doesn't take much at all.



http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t468/jlaceytrc/template21.jpg

And after about 3 hours of cutting out the drawing, transfering it to the MDF and cutting and sanding the template, I ended up with this.




I'd like to say thanks for allowing this. I know it's nothing but I tried to find this same type of thread and never could. Just bits and pieces here and there. Maybe I didn't look hard enough. I also know some of the pics are fuzzy and I apologize. The hardest part of this entire afternoon was trying to work with my right hand and take pics with my left hand. I can't wipe my butt with my left hand. Thanks to Ron Kirn for steering me in the right direction on some things hopefully to come on down the road. Maybe this thread will be helpful to someone that's interested.....Thanks

Jeff

Nicely done, looks very precise, I can tell you work with tools.

You must be way up N. Ga.--it rained in Metro Atlanta all day.

Nice looking template work. I didn't have the patience to cut my paper pattern out first, and it gave me trouble. The flat spot is fairly well marked on the tdowns prints as I recall, how much or little you work it is pretty much up to you. Looks like you already have 2 Teles, compare them, and copy the one that works best for you.


Im an hour north of Atlanta , around the Cartersville/Calhoun area. Started raining here about 8:00 tonight. Been kinda stormy looking all day. THanks for the comment...


Jeff

Nice job Jeff! Now the fun begins!!...:grin:

Looking really good there so far.

I wish those Ridgid sanders were available here in the UK :sad:

Teles come in all shapes & sizes as I found out. Terry Downs' drawing is excellent, but it only represents one particular guitar I believe.

As for the flat for the jack socket, personally I dislike it, so I chose to leave my template rounded. I did mark the reference lines for the flat on it though, this way, should I ever change my mind, or build a body for someone else, the flat can be added with little effort.

A great post, thanks.

Outstanding template!

I grew up in Cartersville, and my dad lives in Cassville so I visit him once every couple months.

The secret to it is to wait until the task is done, then turn the tools off and set them up to look like you're working, then take the pics, haha.

I grew up in Cartersville, and my dad lives in Cassville so I visit him once every couple months.

The secret to it is to wait until the task is done, then turn the tools off and set them up to look like you're working, then take the pics, haha.


Nice........! I spent most of my day Saturday in Cartersville, in Lowes and HomeDepot. Im in Fairmount, which is 'bout like Cassville. Thanks for the hint on the pictures ! And I just thought everybody had a really fast shutter speed.........ha


Jeff

If you use an "electrosocket" you will need a bit of a flat spot for it. If you use an LP type of jack plate you can leave the shape round.

Very nice.

I think you will make many a nice body with that template.

:smile:

Fairmount... I've heard on "one horse towns", Fairmount is more like a "Shetland Pony town". Cassville too, haha.

I see ads on craigslist every now and then for a sawmill up in Calhoun, but I haven't made it out that way yet.

I forgot yesterday to compliment you on your pencil sharpener stand. Nice and sturdy, I'll warrant. I've been looking at yard sales and so forth for a nice old heavy duty sharpener like yours, or the ones we used to have in all our school classrooms. Built like tanks they were, but the stuff they sell today, especially the electric ones, are pure crap.

BTW, whaddya gonna make with your templates? (Yeah, I know--a Telecaster:roll:) but what flavor, what wood, neck/fingerboard, pups, finish, etc, etc. etc.? Or too early in the game for that?

I forgot yesterday to compliment you on your pencil sharpener stand. Nice and sturdy, I'll warrant. I've been looking at yard sales and so forth for a nice old heavy duty sharpener like yours, or the ones we used to have in all our school classrooms. Built like tanks they were, but the stuff they sell today, especially the electric ones, are pure crap.

BTW, whaddya gonna make with your templates? (Yeah, I know--a Telecaster:roll:) but what flavor, what wood, neck/fingerboard, pups, finish, etc, etc. etc.? Or too early in the game for that?



That one belonged to Gramp. I have one just like it in my basement shop, but the one in the vise is Gramp's. When I was 13 I spent most of the summer with my Gramp(as well as my 14th and 15th). He was a whittler and a fiddle maker. I spent hours and hours watching and helping him in his shop. He, to me, was the example of what a man ought'a be. I try to fashion my life around the values he taught me and I use the skills he taught me over the next few years in my every day work as a residential builder. Before he passed away I was finishing up a hot rod shop for a local guy and wanted Gramp to see my work. I knew he didn't have long and I wanted him to feel like I had applied everything he taught me into these jobs. He gave it a thumb's up and commented on the details. I am so proud now to have his entire shop at my home and combined with my own wood shop. When my Nanny told me to come clean out his shop, she stated that he wouldn't have it any other way. Every template, homemade jig, clamp, drawing, and yes even his pencil sharpener. Fiddle making books and a life time supply of sand paper. That hammer and set in the picture above were his also. Yes, I have my own, but to hold the same tools in my hands that he worked with is something that I can't explane. Just can't do it........don't have the words. He gave me the gift of playing guitar during those summers and bought me my first electric.

Thanks for the comment.......you made me go back to place I hadn't been in awhile.


Jeff

Fairmount... I've heard on "one horse towns", Fairmount is more like a "Shetland Pony town". Cassville too, haha.

I see ads on craigslist every now and then for a sawmill up in Calhoun, but I haven't made it out that way yet.

Yea......they put up a traffic light at the intersection when I was a kid, but the only ladder that the city owned wasn't very tall. The first semi truck that came through knocked it down and they never replaced it, or the ladder....



Jeff